Walking Wins Out

After a somewhat troubled history, pedestrian streets are making a comeback. Pedestrian malls in the 1970s failed because planners tried to separate them from the urban setting. Their designs featured fixed seating and park-like landscaping. They lacked a clear purpose and a critical mass of users, and many were eventually dismantled. New pedestrian streets embrace their urban setting. These pedestrian plazas share several characteristics: flexibility, respect for context, and shared management and maintenance by the city and a community partner. Some communities are experimenting with temporary pedestrian plazas, where streets are closed off to cars on weekends or holidays so pedestrians can have free access. Pedestrian street projects in New York City and San Francisco are highlighted.